A Cook's Loft in Chelsea

January 24, 2012

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Anna Popermhem purchased this sprawling 2,500-square-foot Chelsea loft in 2003 for $967,500, according to property records. 'The location and the fact that there was nothing in there attracted me the most because it gave me the possibility to express myself,' she said.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

Ms. Popermhem didn't use an architect, relying instead on her own eye for design. She exposed the brick walls and opened the ceilings to show off the wood beams. 'I really tried to bring it back to the original state,' she said. 'It's an old glassworks building; I wanted to bring back an industrial feel.'
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

She also changed the floor plans and moved some partitions in order to turn the living room, dining room and kitchen into a large open space. The total cost of all the renovations came to about $600,000, Ms. Popermhem said. The work took about six months to complete.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

Mr. Popermhem said she wanted to design the loft to be very simple and efficient, keeping the kitchen as the focus.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

She called the open kitchen her favorite part of the apartment. It has imported Italian red lacquer cabinets by Molteni, a Wolf oven, a sauté station and steamer and a wine fridge.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

Ms. Popermhem imported the Bisazza glass tiles in the bathroom. The bathroom fixtures are designed by Philippe Starck. She also has a steam room in her master bathroom, shown here.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

She said she envisions the ideal buyer as someone who is very artistic or someone who wants to entertain.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

Ms. Popermhem said she wants to remain in Chelsea, but as her children get older she is looking for a smaller space. Ariel Cohen with Prudential Douglas Elliman listed the three-bedroom, three-bathroom loft at 141 West 24th Street for $2.995 million in January.
Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal…

Restaurant owner Anna Popermhem completely renovated this Chelsea loft to expose the beamed ceilings and brick walls and built a professional kitchen in red lacquer and stainless steel. —Corrie Driebusch